Defying gravity, the vertical ascent up a city tower has literally taken the world by storm. Originating in the late 70s, the sport of ‘Vertical Marathons’ (also called ‘Tower Running’) has now spread to every continent, with the UAE’s capital set to join the list of world’s iconic towers.

Under the initiative of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and hosted by the Etihad Towers, The Climb to Abu Dhabi will see the world’s best professionals and amateurs climb up 82 floors / 1,617 steps in a time trial format competing for a prize pool of USD 25,000. The inaugural event to be held on Friday, January 27, 2017 and will also incorporate family, school and community categories competing in a 32-floor / 720-step challenge.

The Climb to Abu Dhabi will have a total of 6 race categories. Open to professionals from across the world, amateurs, families and schools in a variety of individual and team relays the event is set for an electric launch.

In an effort to drive awareness about the sport and its health benefits to the community of Abu Dhabi, its with great pleasure the Climb to Abu Dhabi announces its Brand Ambassador for 2017, world champion Piotr Lobodzinski. Although not participating in the race itself, Piotr will work with the organizers and its partners on the promotion and technical race delivery.

Organized by Sport360 and sanctioned by World Towerrunning Association, the Climb to Abu Dhabi is supported by Activelife by Daman, Reebok, Etisalat, Technogym and Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.

An exhibition race in 2017, the Climb to Abu Dhabi is also the first destination city for the newly formed Climb to Vertical Series, which will see cities around the Middle East & North Africa form part of a MENA vertical marathon circuit, set to debut in 2018.

Event Summary

Friday 27th January 2017

Hosted by Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi

Professional Race Categories

82 Floors / 1,617 Steps

USD $25,000 in Prize Money

Community Race Categories

32 Floors / 720 Steps

Free training sessions starting 8 January 2017. Click on the training advice tab for more info

Registrations officially close 24 January 2017 unless sold out earlier